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With expansive plains and an important agricultural sector, Iowa is often considered Americas Heartland. Yet the state has a lot more to offer residents and visitors alike. It has also been the setting for multiple movies throughout the years, many of which play on its agricultural image and small-town feel. The next time you are searching a good movie to watch on satellite TV, the following are five of the top films that take place in this Midwestern state.

Field of Dreams (1989). Nominated for three Oscars including Best Picture, this may be one of the regions most successful films. It tells the story of a small-time farmer, Ray, and his family. Ray, played by Kevin Costner, is remembering his childhood and exploring his relationship with his father. A voice mysteriously whispers to him one night in the fields, telling him to construct a sports stadium. His wife backs him up, but as they hit hard financial times, they worry about whether it will have to come down. A cast of interesting characters, some based on real-life baseball legends, appear in scenes that take viewers back in time.

Whats eating Gilbert Grape (1993). Johnny Depp plays Gilbert, who struggles to care for his obese mother and younger brother, who has a developmental disability. His sisters help out, but when Gilbert meets a girl and wants to build his own life, the responsibilities of the family start to weigh heavily on him. A young Leonardo DiCaprio won great acclaim for his acting in this film, one that you should definitely look for on satellite TV.

The Bridges of Madison County (1995). Clint Eastwood directed this romantic drama, which is based on a bestseller by Robert James Waller. Eastwood also stars as Robert Kincaid, a photographer, who meets Francesca, played by Meryl Streep. She is a housewife living in Iowa, who spends an incredible four days with Robert while her children and husband at the neighboring State Fair in Illinois. Multiple prizes and awards were given to this love story.

Michael (1996). This fantasy film shares some commonalities with an old series, Highway to Heaven, that you might find on satellite TV. John Travolta plays the role of an angel, who is supposedly visiting Earth during one of his vacations. Michael, however, defies the heavenly characteristics of an angel, lending comic relief to the plot line as well. He travels to a small town in Iowa where he meets a bunch of characters, two of which he is supposed to help fall in love.

The Straight Story (1999). Unlike the previous films, this one is based on the real-life story of a trip made by Alvin Straight across the state and through Wisconsin, on a lawnmower. Because of his poor eyesight and age, Alvin cannot drive but he wants to travel to see his brother, who had a stroke. In the course of six weeks, he journeys through rural America and meets many interesting folks. If you are searching on satellite TV for a feel-good tale that will tug at your heartstrings, look no further.

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